Lens edging device



Sept. 21, 1943. 1.. w. GODDU LENS EDG ING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17. 1942 mg ll INVENTOR LLOYDW GODDU 4 BY V g M TORNE p 1943 w. eooou 2,329,713

LENS EDGING DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LLOYD W. EODDU Patented Sept. 21, 1943' LENS EDGING DEVICE Lloyd W. God'du, Southbridge, Mass, asslgnor to Company, Southbridxe, Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Original application May 27, 1939, Serial No. 276,071. Divided and this application January 17, 1942, Serial No. 427,152 g American Optical 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in abrading and has particular reference to a novel vabrading apparatus and tool and novel methods of abrading embodying said apparatus and tool.

This application is a division of my, co-pending application Serial No. 276,071, filed May 27, 1939.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an abrading apparatus and tool for forming a bevelled surface on a piece of work wherein the said work may be fed directly into the bevel of the tool and has particular reference to a novel method of abrading and making the apparatus and tool for said abrading.

Another object is to provide an abrading tool for bevelling the edgesof lenses wherein both surfaces of the bevel may be formed simultaneously with substantially little wear on the tool and by feeding the edge of the lens directly into the bevel forming edge of said tool.

Another object is to provide a novel arrangement and method of beveliing lenses whereby the position of the' apex of the bevel on the finished lens may be positively controlled.

Another object is to provide a lens bevelling apparatus and improved tool therefor whereby the lens may be reduced to desired shape and the bevel simultaneously formed thereon in one complete revolution of said lens in engagement with the abrading tool.

Another object is to provide a novel bevelling tool and method of making the same whereby the tool may be easily trued at different intervals during the use thereof and with which a sharp bevel may be formed on the lens or means being bevelled.

Another object is to provide a novel abrading tool and method of making same wherein the main body portion of the tool is formed of metal of disc shape having a peripheral portion formed of separate sections so joined as to produce a bevelled circumferential groove throughout the edge of the disc with the said groove impregnated with particles of abrasive material.

Another object is to provide novel methods of producing abrading tools having the abrading surface thereof formed of particles of crushed diamonds or other hard abrasive materials.

Another object is to provide a novel method of making abrading tools of the above character wherein the line of abrasion during the use of the tool will extend substantially throughout the entire width of the effective abrading surface of the tool.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and it will' be apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement of parts and methods shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the v accompanying claims.

I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details, arrangements and methods shown and described as the preferred forms only have been given by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig, I is a front elevation;

Fig. II is a bottom plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. I;

Fig. III is an end elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. I V

Fig. IV is a detailed edge elevation of improved abrading tool used in the device embodying the invention;

Fig. V is a side elevation of the tool illustrated in Fig. IV;.

Figs. VI, VII and VIII are fragmentary views illustratingvarious steps in the process of manufacturing the tool illustrated in Fig. IV; and

Fig. IX is a fragmentary section View of a modified form of the tool.

Abrading' machines for forming a bevelled edge on a lens whereby both of the opposing edges of the lens are bevelled simultaneously are not new in the art. It has been usual, however, in most prior art instances to use abrading tools of a composite material which is readily susceptible to wear. Bevelled edging machines embodying such tools therefore made it necessary to angularly dispose the lens relative to the bevel of the tool so as to avoid having the lens reach the extreme apex of the bevel. This is because of the fact that the quick wearing nature of the material of the tool would not permit a sharp bevel to be formed on the lens if the said lens were fed directly into the bevelled face of said tool. The quick wearing nature of such tools if fed directly in the groove of the tool would re-' sult in the apex soon becoming .rounded and thereby forming a similar rounded edge at the apex of the bevel formed on the lens or work. Such prior art tools, due to their nature of being readily susceptible to wear, constantly necessitated truing with the result that the diameter of such tools were constantly changed and made it necessary to provide adjustable means for compensating for said wear whereby the tool and work could be positioned in desired abrading relation with each other so as to control the resultant size or diameter of the lens. I

The present invention, therefore, is directed particularly to overcoming the dimculties of the above prior art arrangements through the provision of an abrading tool which is resistant to wear, which will allow the lens to be fed directly into the apex of the bevel of the tool and enable the position of the apex of the resultant bevel on the lens to be controlled relative to the opposed surfaces of the lens.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the lenses do not have to be constantly revolved but only need one complete revolution to complete the bevelling process. This distinguishes from the prior art bevelling devices in that it has been usual in the prior art to rotate the lens throughout a plurality of cycles of movement in order to reduce the lens to the desired size and contour shape. With the present invention the size and contour shape may be formed in a single revolution of the lens.

Another advantage of the present invention is that novel means and method of forming an abrading tool has been provided whereby the tool may be quickly and easily trued at different intervals during the use thereof which truing results in only a slight change in the initial diameter of the abrading tool so that only a slight and controllable adjustment for compensating for the wear of the tool is necessary as compared with most prior art devices.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the apparatus of the device embodying the invention, as illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. I to 111 inclusive, comprises a head I mounted for swinging movement on an upper shaft, 2 suitably supported by conventional bearing brackets or the like in the finished device. These brackets are of conventional type and are not shown. The head depends from the shaft 2 and constitutes a bifurcated portion having bearings 3 and 4 in the spaced branches thereof. As shown in Fig. II, the bearing 3 has a sleeve rotatably supported therein and carrying a drive pulley, gear or the like 6 by which-said sleeve may be rotated internally of said bearing. Internally of the sleeve 5 there is provided a stud shaft 1 having a bearing pad 8 adjacent one end thereof for engaging the side surface of the lens or work 9. The opposing end ID of the stud shaft is thread ed and is provided with a hand nut II by which said stud shaft 1 may be adjusted longitudinally to variable positions relative to the bearing 3, Said sleeve 5 is provided with a slot l2 in which a key l3, carried by the stud shaft 9, is slidably mounted. This slot l2 and key l3 connect the said sleeve 5 and stud shaft 1 for simultaneous rotation. The opposing bearing 4 has a stud shaft |4 slidably mounted therein. The shaft l4 has a bearing pad |5 for engaging the opposed side surface of the work or lens 9. The stud shaft I4 is provided with an enlarged slide portion It operably fitted within the internal bore of the bearing 4. A suitable coil spring or the like I1 is adapted to engage the enlarged portion l6 adjacent one end thereof and to engage the end l8 of a sleeve l9 internally of the hearing 4 adjacent its opposed end so as to constantly urge the bearing pad l5 into engagement with the work or lens 9 and urge said lens into engagement with the bearing pad 8. The stud shaft l4, internal of the bearing 4, is fitted within and.

keyed to the sleeve l9 in such a manner that the stud shaft may be moved longitudinally of said sleeve and yet be interlocked so as to rotate therewith. The sleeve |9 has a solid end 20 provided with a reduced portion 2| on which a suitable former 22 may be locked by a clamp nut or the like 23. The sleeve I9 is held against longitudinalmovement relative to the bearing 4 by an internal integral flange 24 and by an external collar 25.

It is to be noted that the former 22 and lens or work 9 are positioned in axial relation with each other. Suitable means, such as a tongue and grooved connection 26 between the former and the support therefor, automatically positions the former in desired meridianal location. This is a conventional type of connection and for this reason, is not shown in detail.

The work or lens 9 is adapted to be held in engagement with a bevel tool 21 which is rotated by means of a pulley, gear or the like 28 through any suitable source of power. The tool 21 is mounted on a shaft 29 rotatably supported in the bearing 30, and the driving pulley or gear28 is secured adjacent the outer end of the shaft. The tool 21 is so constructed as to have a V-shaped groove 32 in the circumferential edge thereof and the face of the groove is'preferably impregnated with particles of abrasive such as crushed dia-' monds, sapphires, or any other known abrasive particles. The specific characteristics of this tool will later be described more in detail.

A contact shoe 33 of a similar size and shape as the abrading tool is mounted on the end 34 of a shaft which is free to rotate in the bearing 3|. This contact shoe is also provided with a circumferential V-shaped groove 35, simulating the groove in the abrading tool. It is to be noted that the contact shoe 33 and abrading tool 21 are retained in given spaced relation with each other and the said shoe has a floating rotary connection on the end 34 of the shaft, so that it may be rotated independently of the tool.

It is extremely essential in bevelling the edges of lenses to form the bevel so that the apex thereof will be located in desired relation with the edge. To obtain the initial spaced location of the lens relative to the former, gauge means, such as illustrated at 36, are provided. This gauge means constitutes a bearing 31 carried by a rock lever 38 which is pivotally attached at 39 to the head of the device. A sleeve 40, having a bevelled former contact 4| thereon is slidably supported in the bearing 31, so that the grooved portion of the former contact 4| may be positioned in aligned relation with the bevelled contour edge of the former 22. Internally of the sleeve 40 there is slidably and adjustably supported a rod 42 having a transverse bearing 43 adjacent one end thereof, in which a gauge contact 44 is adjustably supported and held in adjusted position by a clamped screw or the like 45. The opposed end of the rod 42 is provided with a threaded portion 46 on which an adjustable nut 41 is rotatably supported. The sleeve 40 is provided with an internal slot 48 in which is slidably mounted a key 49 carried by the rod 42. This is to hold the contact 4| and gauge contact 44 in axial relation with each other. The bevelled contact 4| and the gauge contact 44 are normally urged in a direction away from each other through the action of a coil spring or the like 50, which engages a collar 5| carried by the'rod 42 adjacent one end thereof and a shoulder 52 internally of the sleeve 40. By adjustment of the nut 41 on the threaded portion 46 of the rod, the distance between the contact end 53 of the gauge contact 44 and the apex of the groove in the member 4| may be altered. A suitable scale member 54 is provided on the rod 42, whereby the extent of adjustment between the contact member 44 and end 53 of the gauge contact may be positively determined. This gauge, as stated above, is for the purpose of locating the lens 9 in proper abrading relation with the bevelled groove of the tool 21, that is, so that when the lens is reduced to size and desired contour shape as controlled by the shape of the former 22, the apex of the bevel formed on the edge of the lens will be in desired location relative to the opposed surfaces of the lens. This is controlled by placing a suitable indication markor the like on the lens which is to be edged at substantially a point inwardly of the edge of the lens to which the finished bevel edge is to be located, relative to the center of the lens.

The bevelled portion of the contact member 4| is first placed in contact with the bevelled edge of the former 22. The end 53 of the gauge contact 44 is then adjusted so as to overlie the mark or other diameter indication on the lens 9. Of course, it is to be understood that the lens has been properly positioned between the contact members 8 and I prior to saidgauging. The rod 42 is then adjusted to zero' position indicated on the scale 54, which position normally locates the end 53 at a spaced relation relative to the apex of the groove in the member 4| substantially equivalent to the distance between the apices of the grooves in the abraded tool 21 and contact shoe 33. The lens 9 is then adjusted into engagement with the end 53 of the gauge means 44 by rotation of the hand nut ll. This rotation of the hand nut H in one or the other direction will allow the resilient means I! to move the lens clamping means longitudinally of the bearings 3 and 4, so that the mark on the lens may thereby be adjusted into engagement with the end 53 of the gauge contact 44. When in this position, the amount of adjustment necessary to locate the apex of the finished bevel on the edge of the lens in desired position is then deter mined and further adjustment of the rod 42 inwardly or outwardly, as required, is effected and the extent of this adjustment is positively determined by the scale means 54. If the lens in the vicinity of the gauge point 53 is 2 mm. thick and it is desired to form the apex of the bevel intermediate the opposed surfaces of the lens at said location, the contact point 53 is backed away from the lens 1 mm., as controlled by the scale 54, and the lens 9 is then adjusted into engagement with said contact point 53. This locates the lens in desired relation with the abrading tool 21, so that when reduced ,to size, the apex of the bevel on the edge of the lens will be in proper location. After the position of the lens has been determined as specified above, the gauge means 36 is swung clear of the lens about its pivotal connection 39 with the head of the device.

It is to be noted that the speed of rotation of the abrading tool is much faster than the rotation of the lens, and that the lens is adapted to be fed into the abrading tool under the action of a spring, Weight or the like 55. The operation is such that the lens is initially fed into the abrading tool an amount sufficient to allow the former 22 to engage the contact shoe 33. When in this position the rotation of the former will other.

cause the said contact shoe to rotate through frictional contact. The lens is then slowly rotated substantially one complete revolution, or slightly more, and is thereby reduced to size and the bevel simultaneously formed thereon. With this type of abrading tool it is not necessary to first cut the lens to approximate size, as has been usual in the past. The said iensfhowever, may be previously cut, if desired, so that a more positive gauge set-up may be obtained.

- The abrading tool 21, as shown in Figs. IV, and V, is preferably formed of two sections 56 and 51. The section 56 is provided with a hub 58 having a tapered bore 59 adapted to fit the tapered end of the shaft 29.

The section 56 is provided with a bevelled surface 60 adapted to cooperate with a similar bevelled surface 6| on the section 51, so as to provide a V-shaped groove when the-sections 56 and 51 are in assembled relation with each other. The section 51 is provided with a central hollowed out portion 62 having a bevelled portion 63, which is so angled as to fit substantially the bevel 60 on the face of the section 56. Suitable. clamp screws or thelike 64 are provided for holding the sections 56 and 51 in assembled relation with each The bevelled surfaces 60 and 6| are impregnated with abrasive particles, such as crushed diamonds, sapphires, carborundum or the like, which in this particular instance are anchored in said surfaces by forming a plurality of spaced cuts 65 in said bevelled surfaces 60 and 6|. These cuts 65 are formed by suitable chisel-like tools 66, such as shown in Figs. VI and VII. A cut of the shape of the tool 66 is first formed in the surface 60 or 6|, as the case may be, is filled with particles of crushed diamonds or other suitable abrasives, and the side walls of the out are then forced toward each other so as to engage with and hold the particles of abrasive therein. The particles of abrasive are preferably mixed with a suitable conveying substance, such as sheep fat or the like. The closing in of the side walls of the cut to secure the particles of abrasive therein is accomplished simultaneous to the forming of the next adjacent cut in the face, that is, the first cut is formed, the particles or abrasive held in the conveying substance are pressed in said out, and the next successive cut is formed adjacent said first cut by the tool 66. The tool 66 is so shaped that in forming the next adjacent open cut, the walls of the first cut will'be displaced so as to close in and secure the particles of abrasive in said out. The cuts are successively formed, filled and closed in this manner throughout the contour of said members or sections 56 and 51. After the cuts have been formed and filled throughout the contour of said sections 56 and 51, the abrading surfaces 60 or 6|, as the case may be, are trued by a suitable shaping tool 61. Care is taken that in forming said trued surfaces that, the finished sections will be of substantially the same diameter. During continued use the surfaces 60 and 6| may be dressed and trued so as to maintain the desired effective abrading qualities of the tool. The body of the sections 56 and 5'! may be formed of any desirable, workable metal, such as copper alloy, nickel alloy, steel,-

etc., having a certain degree of softness which will enable the ready working thereof. When it is desired to retrue the tool and to reexpose the cutting edges of the abrasive particles, the face 60 or 6|, as the case may be, is etched by a suitable acid, such as hydrofluoric acid, or other acid which will remove a controlled amount of the metal surrounding the outer particles 01' abrasive and cause a given portion of the cut edges thereof to be exposed. This may also be accomplished by subjecting the face of the tool to a suitable abrato tend to insure a more positive supporting of the abrasive particles during the use of the tool, so that the particles will not become dislodged and displaced from the working face of the tool prior to performing the full extent of their usefulness.

The cuts 65 are preferably angled in the direction of rotation of the tool, as indicated by the arrow 68 in Fig. VII, so that the abrading pressure on said abrasive particles will tend to force the abrasive particles inwardly of the cuts rather than tend to displace the particles from the face of the tool.

The angling of said cuts is diagrammatically illustrated at 69.

By forming the tool in two separate sections 56 and 51, the surfaces 60 and 61 may be easily retrued and a sharp apex of the bevelled groove formed by said two sections may be maintained. This is because of the fact that the angled portion 63 of the section 51 is adapted to be drawn into clamped engagement with the bevelled surface 60 and thereby forms a sharp apex. The truing of the surfaces 60 and 61 results only'in a slight change in diameter of the tool and this may be compensated for by any suitable adjustment means known in the art, but in most instances, is so slight that it may be neglected.

A modified form of tool is illustrated in Fig. IX, wherein the abrading faces 10 and II are preferably formed 01 a mixture of abrasive particles and granules of metal which are joined with each other by pressure and by a sintering process for holding the abrasive particles therein. It is to be noted that the supporting discs 12 and 13, or the sections 56 and 51, may be provided with annular members 14 and 15, having the abrading surfaces 10 and H thereon. The said annular members may be secured to said discs 12 and 13 by soldering or the like, as illustrated at 16. The entire annular members H and may be formed of sintered metal with only the affecting abrading surfaces '10 and H thereof formed of a mixture of particles of abrasives and metal joined by a slntering process. with this arrangement only the annular members 14 and 15 need to be replaced when the efifectlve abrading surfaces thereof have become worn and impractical for use. It 15 to be understood that the abrading tool illustrated in Fig. IV may be provided with annular members simulating the members 14 and 75, if desired. Although a sinterlng process has been described it is to be understood that the abrasive particles might be supported by any suitable bonding means or snaterial, such as artificial resins, Bakelite or the like or by any suitable means.

The effective abrading surfaces I0 and II may be hardened to any desired in a manner similar to that deslribed above in connection with the tool illustrated in Fig. IV.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that novel means and methods have been provided for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention, particularly that of providing a bevelling tool which will be resistant to wear and by which a sharp apex may be maintained in the V-shaped bevel face thereof and the position of the bevel on the resultant lens may be positively controlled.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. In a device of the character described the combination of an abrading tool and a former contact shoe. each having a peripheral groove of similar shape therein, said grooves being in substantially given spaced relation with each -other, a head having a rotatable work support thereon for supporting work for engagement with the peripheral groove of the abrading tool, a former on said head adapted to be rotated simultaneously with the work support and the work carried thereby and adapted to engage the peripheral groove in the contact shoe and means for varying and controlling the distance between the work and the former according to the given distance between the respective peripheral grooves of the abrading tool and the contact shoe to so locate the work relative to the abrading tool that the resultant edge formed on the work at the finished depth of abrading will be substantially accurately centered with respect to the groove in the abrading tool.

2. In a device of the character described the combination of a rotatably supported abrading tool and a former contact shoe each having a similarly formed V-shaped peripheral groove therein, said grooves being in given spaced relation with each other, a head having a rotatable lens support thereon for supporting a lens for engagement with the peripheral groove of the abrading tool, a former on said head adapted to be rotated simultaneously with the lens support and lens carried thereby and adapted to contact the shoe within the peripheral groove thereof and means for varying and controlling the distance between the lens and the former according to the distance between the respective peripheral grooves of the abrading tool and contact shoe to so locate the lens relative to the abrading tool that the resultant edge formed on said lens at the finished depth of abrading will be substantially accurately centered with respect to the groove in the abrading tool.

3. In a device of the character described the combination of an abrading tool and a former contact shoe each having a similarly formed V- shaped peripheral groove therein, said grooves being in substantially fixed spaced relation with each other, a head having a rotatable lens support thereon for supporting a lens for engagement with the abrading tool, a former on said head adapted to be rotated simultaneous with the lens support and the lens carried thereby and adapted to engage the contact shoe within the peripheral groove thereof, gauge means having a'grooved portion for engaging the 'former and degree of hardness tween the having an adjustable contact portion adjacent the opposed end thereof for engaging the side surface of the lens, the distance between the grooved portion and the contact portion of said gauge means being so controlled as to be substantially equal to but less than the distance begrooves in the abrading tool and the contact shoe by an amount substantially equal to half the thickness of the lens and means for varying the distance between the lens and the contact shoe whereby the said lens may be adjusted to engage the side surface thereof with the contact means substantially at the line of the depth to which the said lens is to be abraded whereby the edge of the lens at said finished depth will be substantially accurately centered with respect to the groove in the abrading tool.

4. In a device of the character described the combination of a disc type abrading tool having a peripheral V-shaped groove therein and a disc type contact shoe having a V-shaped peripheral groove therein simulating the groove in the abrading tool, said abrading tool and contact shoe being supported for rotation independently of each other, said grooves being in substantially fixed spaced relation with each other, a head having a rotatable lens support thereon for supporting a lens for engagement with the abrading tool, a former on said head adapted to be rotated simultaneously with the lens support and lens carried thereby and adapted to engage the contact shoe within the peripheral groove thereof and means for varying and controlling the distance between the lens and the former to position the lens relative to'the abrading tool when the former is in engagement with the groove of the contact shoe so that the resultant edge formed on the lens at the finished depth of abrading will be substantially accurately centered with respect to the groove in the abrading tool. 5. In a device of the character described the combination of a pair of spaced members, one constituting a rotatably supported abrading tool and the other a former contact shoe each having a similarly formed peripheral groove therein and a second pair of spaced members one constituting a rotatable work support and the other a former adapted to be rotated simultaneously with the work support, one of said pair of spaced members being in relatively fixed spaced relation with each other and the other of said pair of spaced members having embodied therewith means for varying and controlling the distance between said spaced members relative to the distance between the other of said pair of spaced members whereby work carried by said work support when the former is in position in the peripheral groove of the former shoe may be so related with the groove of the abrading tool that the edge of the work substantially along the line of the finished depth to which the work is to be abraded will be substantially accurately centered with respect to the groove in the abrading tool.

6. In a device of the character described the combination of a pair of spaced members, one constituting a rotatably supported abrading tool and the other a former contact shoe each having a similarly formed V-shaped peripheral groove therein and a second pair of spaced members one constituting a rotatable lens support and the other a former adapted to be rotated simultaneously with the lens support,one of said pair of spaced members being in relatively fixed spaced relation with each other and the other of said pair of spaced members having embodied therewith means for varying and controlling the distance between said spaced members relative to the distance between the other of said pair of spaced members whereby a lens carried by said lens support when the former is in position in the peripheral groove of the former shoe may be so related with the V-shaped groove of the abrading tool that the edge of the lens substantially along the line of the finished depth to which the lens is to be abraded will be substantially accurately centered with respect to the V-shaped groove in the abrading tool.

LLOYD W. GODDU. 

